The VLOOKUP function in Excel
Posted 2024-10-16 00:58:30
0
10K

The VLOOKUP function in Excel is used to search for a value in the first column of a table and return a value in the same row from a specified column.
Syntax of VLOOKUP
VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
Parameters
- lookup_value: The value you want to search for.
- table_array: The range of cells that contains the data (including the column with the lookup value).
- col_index_num: The column number (starting from 1) in the table from which to retrieve the value.
- range_lookup: (Optional) TRUE for an approximate match, or FALSE for an exact match.
Example of VLOOKUP
Imagine you have the following data in cells A1 to C4:
A | B | C |
---|---|---|
ID | Name | Department |
101 | Alice | Sales |
102 | Bob | Marketing |
103 | Charlie | IT |
Use Case
You want to find the name of the employee with ID 102.
Formula
In another cell, you would use:
=VLOOKUP(102, A2:C4, 2, FALSE)
Explanation
- 102 is the
lookup_value
(the ID you're searching for). - A2
table_array
(the range that contains your data). - 2 is the
col_index_num
(you want to return the value from the second column, which is the Name). - FALSE specifies that you want an exact match.
Result
This formula will return Bob, as he is the employee with ID 102.
Notes
- If the
lookup_value
is not found, VLOOKUP will return an#N/A
error. - VLOOKUP can only search from left to right (the lookup value must be in the first column of the table array).
- For more advanced lookup needs, consider using
INDEX
andMATCH
orXLOOKUP
in newer versions of Excel.

Search
Categories
- Technology
- Education
- Business
- Music
- Got talent
- Film
- Politics
- Food
- Games
- Gardening
- Health
- Home
- Literature
- Networking
- Other
- Party
- Religion
- Shopping
- Sports
- Theater
- Wellness
Read More
Find scholarships and study in the United States
There are countless scholarships available in the United States, offered by various institutions,...
Running a Successful Business
Beyond Profits to Building a Strong Foundation
In the world of business, success is often...
HTML Table Styling
HTML Table Styling
You can use CSS to style HTML tables and their elements, providing greater...
Tips and Tricks of Business Automation
Automation drives innovation, addressing the needs of various industries. Choosing intelligent...